Well, here's the thing. About a month ago I made some half arsed attempt to lay down some plans for this year. Some drawing goals. But, the main one, the burning one, the one that I've been wanting to do for the best part of a decade I never even mentioned. It just seemed like such a massive job. I didn't know where to start. But I just cannot let another year pass without giving this a shot. I just cannot. It'll drive me insane. More insane.So, I have to make a start. Right now. I've told you about this project before. In words and in drawings. It is the children's book that has been cluttering up my head for the last decade. It's not exactly a story but a whole world I want to share with you.
I think that the way I am going to do that is by starting a new blog just dedicated to the book. There I can reveal the whole story of how I happened to find out about this world and, essentially, begin to publish the book online. Until a publisher picks it up, that is.
What do YOU think of that? Does it sound like a good idea to you? I would be really very very grateful for any feedback about the idea. If I don't start asking these questions and making these steps now I might never do it. And, then all these field notes will go to waste or just continue to clutter up my already dazed and confused head.
Thanks in advance.
61 comments:
Go for it Andrea, your drawings are always great, a new blog for your childrens book is a great idea, I will love to follow you!!
:) my best wishes !!!
Sounds wonderful! Do it!
I think it's a wonderful idea! What I have seen of it so far is great...so...go for it!
do do do do it! it sounds like a great idea and i love your "woodland world" sketches and notes. i can't wait for you to start. go girl!
I say do it! You have such a vivid imagination, what I have seen on this blog is awe-inspiring - I look forward to following your new blog!!
I cannot wait to see your new blog and to hear about this new world of yours! I say, GO FOR IT!
Interesting! I just had the same idea recently, when pondering the daunting task of pulling my grandmother's papers together to publish a book. I just can't face it. But I realized it would be easy to put a piece at a time on a blog and then eventually pull all those pieces together into book form. Seems as if it would work really well for a children's book. You'd be gathering your audience at the same time. (I'll be one of them!)
sounds excellent! I can't wait to see what you do! :)
Ooohhhh yeah. Do it girl, do it. You are talented and creative and there is no better time. It's been way too long already. I have a little girl and I can't wait to share your new book with her.
WOOHOO!
I've just started following your blog recently and am really enjoying it. A second bog would certainly be a treat.
I can't see any downsides - I think the blog sounds like a great plan on all fronts - creative, motivational and marketing.
Great idea! And you can get feedback at the same time as the creation is taking shape. Awesome! Do it! :)
I think it sounds like a great idea!
I will definitely follow this new blog, it sounds exciting. :)
What a wonderful way to pop various ideas and loose strands out of your head and later sort and organize them, a super idea! Meanwhile, we'll be the happy recipients of all that wit and talent.
sounds like a fabulous idea to me!
I'll follow along too!!!!
Yes, I think it is a good idea - you'll have a better chance of keeping things separate.
Maybe start the new blog and keep it private til you get the feel for it, then turn the little blighter loose in the world?
Do you want all of your work on one site? If so, you can just add a tab to the one you have. Then, buy the URL for the kids book and have it direct to that particular section of this blog.
If you don't mind splitting your work, then by all means, Give it it's own site!
Either way, I look forward to seeing what happens.
p.s. I hope it's ok that you are in our blogroll over at http://www.weeklymoleskine.com because we are fans!
Very intriguing idea you have given us a peek of--I would love to see more!
Great idea, and you'll get great feedback. I'd certianly mark you as one of favorite blogs to follow. Love what you do.
go for it :>)
though I wonder if a publisher would publish something you've already sold online???? I don't know enought about it but have doubts.
It's something I want to do myself so I'll watch with great interest
That would absolutely brilliant! A publisher would be nuts not to buy your book. Please share the site when you get it up and running. I'd hate to miss it. :-)
Sounds like a great idea and I'd love to see a second blog! I'd want to say try and get some professional advice or some feedback from other illustrators who have experience of knowing what's involved - and more realistically what you can expect to achieve personally and/or financially. Also, it sounds as if no matter what the outcome, you need to do it or you'll always regret not trying.
Anything your pens touch sparkles with your insightful magic...Go for it big time...Rock on Andrea! We will all be your cheering section!
By all means. Good-googly-golly yes!!!!! GO FOR IT ANDREA!
Yep. What everybody else said: do it. You've got an interested audience here and on Flickr and I'm sure we'll all look forward to the story and blog developing.
This sounds like an amazing idea, Andrea! I will certainly be following the progress of this project.
carpe diem. we'll all be with you for the magical ride
I'd say it's about time! :D Go for it, my friend!
Brilliant!! Brilliant idea!! I've seen the insides of your hat . . . I cannot WAIT to see what's inside your HEAD . . .
I think it is a great idea, and will be an avid follower of the new blog, too.
Sheesh, guys.
You really blow me away. Thank you thank you thank you.
I'll talk more about this as time goes on, but Felicity, you are right I think I just have to do it anyway. Whether it's of any interest to publishers, or not.
Dinah, that is something I've been considering. I've sort of started doing that, mainly because it's just so overwhelming to start something so big.
Vivien, I don't intend to sell it online, just showcase it I guess.
I have also taken some professional advice about this and the outcome of that was promote promote promote. I think that the publishing world, much like the music world, is changing so much - because of the internet - that the old rules just don't apply anymore.
Anyway, I will post again about all of this stuff. For now, I am so appreciative of your support and of all the feedback.
THANK YOU, ALL. I'm so touched by your response.
YES!
What everybody has already said. :) Just do it.
Go for it! It sounds like an excellent idea, and a fun idea. :)
hi. i browsed your works and i find them amazing.
Andrea, If nothing else happens with these woodland folk, starting a new blog would help you centralize and organize the thoughts and images.Kinda like starting a new journal dedicated to one thing. It could help clear your mind and keep things separate enough to keep you from going crazy in other areas. I wouldn't worry so much about the book selling or not because the images have already been published one way or another. The internet is always breaking new ground. Go for it. This is unproven territory. Let's see what happens.
BTW- I would love a pair of those boots!!!
A fantastic idea Andrea, I would love to see it. One word of caution though, make sure all your fabulous illustrations have a watermark or some other means of copyright/protection as I would hate for your beautiful work to be plaguarised - there are some unscrupulous people out there.
Andrea, I think your work is just ridiculously wonderful, and all the comments you have received suggest how popular your book would be.
I definitely don't want to take anything away from this brilliant idea- but in terms of having a publisher pick it up (which they SHOULD, in my opinion)-maybe you wouldn't want to put everything out there on a blog. I think I'd post enough material to generate interest, but often publishers only want a few pages of a book 'released' to the public before the book is out for sale. You know- reeling people in, then leave them wanting more so they are more likely to go and buy the book. You deserve to have a book out there for all the world to see. I for one would buy it!
Truth is, if you did put the whole thing on a blog, I'd be right there checking for the updates, but I wouldn't want you to do yourself out of a publishing deal by giving too much away.
However, I'm not an authority on these things...it's just a different point of view. Best of luck and I'll be watching with interest!
Knowing that my "two cents worth" is just that--worth 2 cents, I would say, Why not work up a few pages (which is likely you already have) and send them in with a proposal to one or more children's book publishers. Give it a shot with them first. Your illustrations are fantastic! You just might land a book deal before ever releasing it on the world-wide web and possibly losing a chance to get it published officially. After you have sent it off to several publishers, You could then consider the possibility of self-publishing. I think you have many people who would purchase it straight from you via this blog (or the new one). But I wouldn't publish it in it's entirety on a blog until you give it a real go with the publishers. Ok, that's my two cents...either way you go about it, I'm definitely going get my copy, or read it online. Other questions to ask yourself: is this something I'm ok with "giving away"? (if so, then go ahead and just blog it. Is this something worth receiving some pay for? (Which in my humble opinion, it is!!) Is this something that needs to be seen ON PAPER? (Again, my opinion is that your drawings SING even more in paper version. there is nothing like holding in ones hands an actual paper book filled with wonderful drawings. A computer just doesn't do them justice. Ok, I'm done:) All the best to you! You are a fantastic artist.
Thank you all.
This is all really great feedback and I appreciate you taking your time to comment.
I probably didn't make it clear in the post - as I said it seems like such a massive undertaking I often forget what I'm wanting to say - but what I really want to achieve, with the a seperate blog, is generate interest in the book. I, hopefully, would get a following along the way and to show publishers that people do like the idea and the illustrations and that it is worth publishing.
As Nancy said, "The internet is always breaking new ground. This is unproven territory. Let's see what happens." I believe this to be true and as Jason said lots of blogs are being published in print thse days.
What I am definitelyt NOT going to do is publish the whole thing. I will, be keeping some aside. It would be to let people into this world and, maybe, become intrigued by it. I do believe it needs to be a book - I don't think reading something from the internet ever could live up to reading, holding, a book.
I will make a few posts to explain further the reasons for doing this. If I haven't replied to your comments here (concerning self publishing, publishers etc)I will answer them in those posts. I am going to break it down into managable posts so that I don't forget to mention everything.
I don't know if any of the above makes sense?! But I'm SO appreciative of all the feedback recieved, all of it is very very useful. Thank you thank you thank you.
I'd follow it. :) Go for it!
It's sound like one good idea! I am agree with all who comented here. Will be more interesting if you will drawing in your book - family tree! =) Good luck! dear!
I love your whole concept for this book and have been looking forward to you doing it! A separate blog dedicated to the book is a wonderful idea --- but would your copyright be protected? Could you set it so clever mischief-makers could not steal your work?
Meanwhile, sign me up to purchase a copy when one is available! I'm a huge fan of your work.
I don't think you need me to tell you what a great idea it is because I am sure many have said that. All I can say is that I wish you the best of luck in what you're pursuing, and I could definitely see success ahead of you.
The docks' drawing is awesome by the way...I wonder where you could get one of those here in the US
Yep! It will be a beautiful book.
Really - go for it!! I would be looking forward to see your blog soon.. All the very best to you :)
Don't put it off longer! Your work is beautiful. I have the beganings of several childrens books and I've let life get in the way. It will just continue to haunt you! Sneak peeks of portions of a drawing will keep us interested. I've just recently heard of poeple getting back to 1 blog.... its easy enough to search a blog for just the books information and you seem to have a good following on this one so I don't know if a second blog is necessary.
Good luck with it! I think I'll look for some of my book beganings!
Continued success
In the immortal words of Nike: Just do it!
You have such a gift and a talent that I'm sure anything you produce would be amazing beautiful and stunning.
I can't wait to see the magic!
I so understand where you are coming from... you have to go with your gut feeling and set up this new blog. Up until last year I spent several years trying to get a story out of my head into the written word. Mine is a teenage story, I have all these fully formed characters in my head - I so get the 'going insane' bit! But for me, after years of struggle with the words I knew it wasn't happening. I gave myself time off by picking up art materials I had long neglected and felt like I had 'come home'. I have found it is the art that is the natural thing for me to do. If I can make any level of success out of anything, for me I think it might be the art.
What I have already seen of your book idea is fantastic, I can't wait to find out more about the world in your head! Speaking in terms of my proper job too - childrens librarian, I definitely say - get cracking girl! There is an awful lot of stuff out there that is really poor literature for younger children... for some reason especially in the UK. There are some wonderful writers and artists in this country but they seem to get swallowed up by sets of books 'written' by celebrities - money generators for publishers. A blog about the world of your book will hopefully generate international interest (some of the best childrens books at the moment seem to be coming out of the US) as well as in the UK - what have you got to lose? I am very excited for you!!
I am so excited this is officially the longest message I have ever left on a blog - hope you don't mind, what a space-hog!!! :o)
Well I am not a child anymore... but I woul love reading your book. Please DO IT!
I think it is a good idea, too!
I'll look forward to following rhe new blog!
Of course it's a great idea- do it!
I think this is a wonderful idea! GO for it! And I want to follow!
You go for it Girl!
Of course you must do this - in fact it sounds as if you are well on the way. From the previews you have given, it seems you could well be on the way to a best-seller!
I have thought this is what I have been watching for a long time. Quit teasing me. Get On!
anyway, i think you'r stuck now.
Andrea,
I can definitely envision you and your book as the next "Harold and the Purple Crayon" -
"Andrea and the Blue Ballpoint Pen".
That may not at all be what is in your head, but I think it would be great nonetheless.
Take these (57 so far) posted comments as a resounding "YES".
Simply wonderful idea!!
Brilliant!
Michelle
Sounds great BUT you had better not stop drawing like Maggie S did or I'll never forgive you...
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